You want to feel comfortable while flying for hours, but some airlines impose limits on how far travelers can travel to increase comfort.
Social media users on TikTok have been sharing their experiences flying with other passengers who have removed their socks on commercial aircraft.
These videos have prompted calls for more education on airplane etiquette.
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Many major airlines can also remove passengers from the plane if they violate the no-barefoot rule.
American Airlines details what is expected of passengers in its Contract of Carriage.
According to American Airlines, to provide a safe environment for all passengers, the airline requires all passengers to be “properly dressed,” which means “no bare feet or uncomfortable clothing.”
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Rule 21 of United Airlines’ “Contract of Carriage” is “Refusal of Transportation” and it talks about the various reasons why you may be denied boarding or removed from a plane.
One of the variables listed includes “barefoot passengers, passengers not wearing proper clothing, or passengers whose clothing is lewd, indecent or offensive.”
Some airlines only allow people of a certain age to be barefoot while flying.
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Southwest said that for the “comfort and safety” of all passengers on board, crew members may remove any barefoot passengers over the age of five, or those without disabilities who must be barefoot.
JetBlue Airways is another airline that adheres to similar age restrictions pursuant to its contract of carriage.
While this rule appears to be widespread among U.S.-based airlines, not all foreign airlines include this prohibition in their conduct agreements.
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Airlines such as Air Canada, Air France and British Airways do not have any provisions in their contracts of carriage that would allow them to remove barefoot passengers from a plane.
If an airline were to implement a no-barefoot policy, it would reportedly be up to flight attendants to enforce it.
Each contract uses the phrase “may be required,” meaning it’s not a hard-and-fast rule that passengers must follow.
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While wearing socks isn’t strictly necessary, there may be good reasons to keep your toes covered on an airplane.
Florida-based etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore said it’s best to keep your feet covered in some way.
“From an etiquette standpoint, it’s rude to go barefoot in public because a lot of germs can be transmitted through the feet,” Whitmore told Fox News Digital.
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“If you’re planning on taking your shoes off on a long flight, it’s best not to walk around without slippers for your own health and safety,” she says. “Plane floors, especially bathroom floors, are very dirty. Any water you see on the floor is probably not water.”
Whitmore also said being barefoot can have an impact on those around you.
“For fellow passengers, seeing someone walking around barefoot may be considered unpleasant or unhygienic and may negatively impact the flying experience.”
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If you want to be comfortable and stay hygienic, Whitmore suggests wearing clean socks, slippers, or more comfortable shoes.
Fox News Digital has reached out to American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways for comment.